Emergency escape hatch



March 10, 1953 c. T. DENKER ET AL EMERGENCY ESCAPE HATCH Filed Oct. 16, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTORS CHAR LES T. DENKER JOHN KMIT- ATTOR NEYS March 10, 1953 c. T. DENKER ET AL EMERGENCY ESCAPE HATCH 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1951 FIG. 4

' INVENTORS CHARLES T. DENKER JOHN KMIT ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES LPTENT OFFICE 2,631,032 EMERGENCY ESCAPE HATCH Charles Denker and John Chicago, Ill. Application ()ctoberlfi, 1951, Serial No. 251,596

This invention relates to emergency escape hatches for automotive vehicles, airplanes, boat and the like conveyances;

In emergency situations it sometimes becomes essential that an auxiliary means of escape from the conveyance be available, particularly where the normal. meansof egress are remote from the cab or otherwise impractical of utilization under thecircumstances. It is; therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel escape hatch that can be conveniently located for instantaneous use in a conveyance; It is a further objeot of this invention toafiord an arrangement of parts whereby the closurepanel of the escape hatch can be instantly sprungatall points of connection to thecab of the conveyance by a single movement only.

In some emergency situations, circumstances permit escape through restricted areas only and it becomes essential to have a hatch or closure panel which can be shifted or moved bodily, rather than swung about a hinge, from sealing position relative to the escapeopening Yet a further object of this invention is to afford means whereby this may beacoomplished.

Other and further obj ects or the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are'illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of'illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles; thereof and what we now consider to be .the best mode in which we have contemplated apply ng those principles. Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used, and structural changes may bemade as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the escape hatch of the present inventionmounted in the top of a conveyance, and showing a portion of the closure panel broken away to expose certain underlying parts;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to vFig. 2 but showing the respective parts in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4- -4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the actuating handles and'la'tching means shown inFig.2;and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail sectional views taken eolaims. terms-72) substantially along the lines 6-6, 1, and 8-8 of Fig. 5.

The escape hatch of the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 8 comprises a rectangular hatch or closure panel [0 having an area substantially equal to that of the escape opening provided in the cab of the conveyance. .The closure'panel {0 is adapted to overlie the escape opening in sealing relation thereto, and to-this endthe escape opening is conveniently bordered by a continuous channel member 40, panel H! being provided with a complementary configured and integral flange member ll' adapted to make a snug it with the'channel member. If desired, the channel may be lined with a gasket or like sealing means, and while we have shown the escape hatch as being locatedin the top of the cab, it will be appreciated that any other convenient location may be chosen.

Attached to the underside of closure panel 10 and adjacent the four corners thereof; are four plates [2 each secured in position by retaining means such as rivets i4. Each of the plates I2 has an integral and depending lug or abutment element; 13-, and these lugs 'function'to releasably seat latching nieans for holding the closure panel It in sealingpositionbvrlth escape "opening as will be described in more detail below.

Within the area of 'the'e'scape opening and extending longitudinally with respect t'o"the"opposite sides thereof, are a pair of mounting bars !5. The mounting bars i 5'are secured in position to the opposite end sections ofch'annel member 40, preferably by welding; and thus become a part of the cab to function as fixed supports for mounting interconnected actuating handles.

These handles are paired off longitudinally as well as transverselyrelative to the escape'hatch as will be pointedlout below.

As best'shown'in Fig.5, each of the mounting bars 15 is provided witha pair of transversely "extending apertures that mount bushings as 1-7.

The bushings are se'cur'edin pQsition relative to the mounting barsas by set screws l8. Mounted for rotation in the bushings .l l are a pairof transverse shafts l6 having splined ends .at'lSA to which are keyed four actuating'ha'hdles, 2| and 22, and 23 and Z4, each handle corresponding to a respective one of the lugs l3 and provided with a grip portion'as '12lA. -'=Thus, since the shafts 1,6 are free to rotatein the bushings ll, rocking or shifting movement imparted -.to one .ofthe handles, as'for instance "2 l; 'will'be transmitted to the corresponding transversely positioned handle "as 22, and conversely.

In order that all four handles will be actuated concomitantly with positive movement imparted to any one, rigid links interconnect each longitudinal pair. Thus, each of the handles as 2| and 23 is journaled on a pivot pin, in the form of a short hollow sleeve as 38, extended through apertures in the handles and connected to opposite ends of the links 20 as by means of screws 39. As shown in Fig. 8, the pivot pins 38 are retained against displacement relative to the handle by means of integral heads 31. In this manner, each of the handles is freely rotatable in position on a corresponding pin 33, and all four handles may be instantaneously and simultaneously shifted or rocked from one position to anther through such rotation as will be clear from the showing in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 2, the closure panel H3 is shown as being in a closed and latched position relative to the escape opening. Heel sections 25 provided on each of the handles substantially abut against lateral faces of the lugs 13, and latch means, each corresponding to one of the lugs 13, retain the closure panel in position. Thus, as best shown in Fig. 5, a rounded depression 35 is formed in a lateral face of each of the lugs iii. A spring 2? and snap button 28 are mounted in a recess 25 afiorded in the heel sections of the handles. Each of the springs 2'! is held under compression by a flat plate 29, the latter being retained in position as by a screw 32 and provided with overhanging nose elements 3i. As will be clear from Figs. 5 and 7, the nose elements 3! are configured so as to define an inside diameter somewhat less than the greatest diameter of button 28 so that only a predetermined portion of the latter will be free of recess 26 in position to be seated within the confines of depression 35. It will be appreciated that the depressions 35 are rounded in order that the snap buttons will be urged rearwardly against the action of the springs when the handles are urged clockwise or in a forward direction from the position in Fig. 2 to the position in Fig. 3.

The closure panel 10 is latched in position at four points defined by the location of lugs 13 and by means of the four snap buttons 28, each springurged into a corresponding depression 35. In order that the closure panel It may be quickly and efficiently disengaged with respect to the channel member 40, the forward end portion of each handle is provided with cam means in the form of a tapered projection to flattened along the topside, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to lie flat against the underside of the corresponding one of the plates [2. When it becomes necessary to disengage or unlatch the closure panel to afford a means of egress through the escape opening, the grip portion of any one of the handles is grasped and rocked in a clockwise or forward direction as viewed in Fig. 2, to the position in Fig. 3. The other three handles are actuated in the same manner and at the same time, and each of the cam elements at the forward ends thereof is brought to bear against the underside of the plates I2 to exert a thrusting action against the underside of the panel to force the closure panel upwardly and out of engagement with respect to the channel member 40 as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the closure panel may be manually shifted as a body along the top of the cab to completely expose the escape opening. At the commencement of such clockwise movement of the handles, each of the snap buttons will be quickly cammed back into the recesses 26, and if it is desired to subsequently replace the closure panel, cam sur- 4 faces as 36 may be conveniently employed to assure smooth action of the snap buttons during return or reverse movement of the actuatin handles to the latching position of Fig. 2. The apices of the cam elements or forward projections 30 are, of course, formed to extend beyond the axes of rotation of the actuating handles, defined by the transverse bars, a sufiicient distance to assure positive disengagement between channel member 48 and flange H of the closure panel [0.

As a means for increasing the effective thrust of the cam means 33 on the underside of plates l2, and as a further assurance to simultaneous action of all four handles, a bar N], Fig. 4, is extended between a transverse pair of handles, as 2! and 22, in position to be readily grasped when needed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the escape hatch of the present invention may be provided in a conveyance within a minimum of space, with the actuating handles normally disposed in an out-of-the-way position. When in place, this closure panel will be efficiently retained against displacement, but at the same time the novel arrangement of parts permits the escape panel to be instantaneously sprung at all points of retention. In this connection, the device has particular utility in aircraft, for the thrusting action of the cam means on the actuating handles will force the closure panel into the air-stream. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the escape hatch of the present invention is not hinged.

While We have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, structural changes and modifications may be made as desired by those skilled in the art, and therefore we intend to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an enclosed conveyance provided with an escape opening bordered by a retaining channel, an escape hatch assembly comprising, a closure panel having a bordering flange adapted to fit into said channel, a first and second mounting bar extending longitudinally of said opening along opposite sides thereof, a first and second shaft extended transversely of said opening adjacent the opposite ends thereof and mounted for rotation in said mounting bars, four handles each splined to the projecting ends of said shafts and opposite pairs of said handles being linked whereby rocking movement in a forward or reverse direction imparted to one of said handles is transmitted to the other three, each of the handles being provided with a projection at the forward end adapted to exert a thrusting action against the bottom of the closure panel when the handles are rocked in a forward direction, abutment means depending from the bottom of the closure panel and each corresponding to one of the handles, and releasable spring-actuated latch means mounted in each of the handles for engaging a depression provided in each of the abutment means when the handles are rocked in a reverse direction.

2. In an enclosed conveyance provided with an escape opening, an escape hatch assembly comprising, a closure panel of a size adapted to sealably fit over said opening, shafts extending transversely of the opening adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said shafts being supported for rotation in means fixed to the conveyance, handles connected to the ends of the shafts and being arranged in pairs along the opposite longitudinal sides of the opening, said pairs of handles being linked whereby forward or reverse rocking movement imparted to one of the handles is transmitted to the others, latch means carried by each of the handles, and means fixed to the bottom of the panel engageable by the latch means, the forward end of each of the handles projecting beyond the axis of rotation thereof a distance sufiicient to exert a thrust against the bottom of the panel when rocked in a forward direction.

3. An escape hatch for an enclosed conveyance provided with an escape opening comprising, a closure panel of a size adapted to fit over said opening in a sealing position, fixed shaft-supporting means, a pair of shafts rotatable in the said means and extending transversely of the opening, handles fixed to the opposite ends of each of the shafts for movement therewith in a forward or reverse direction, longitudinal means interconnecting a pair of handles whereby movement imparted to one is transmitted to the other, abutment means depending from the bottom of the panel each corresponding to one of the handles, cam means on each of the handles for forcing the panel out of said position when the handles are moved in a forward direction, and latch means carried by each of the handles for engaging the corresponding abutment means when the handles are moved in a reverse direction.

4. An escape hatch for an enclosed conveyance comprising, a panel of a size adapted to seal an escape opening in said conveyance, a flange depending from the opposite sides and ends of said panel and being adapted to fit into a channel bordering said opening, fixed lugs depending from and arranged in first and second pairs along the opposite side edge portions of said panel, a first and second pair of handles corresponding to said pairs of lugs and each being mounted for shifting movement in a forward and reverse direction beneath said panel, each of said handles being provided with latching means for releasably engaging depressions provided in said lugs, each of said handles being provided with camming means for exerting a thrusting action against the bottom of said panel when the handles are moved in a forward direction, each pair of said handles being interconnected by link means, and opposite ones of said handles being splined to a common shaft rotatably supported in position on said conveyance whereby shifting movement imparted to any one of said handles is transmitted to the others.

5. In an enclosed conveyance provided with an escape opening, an escape hatch comprising, a panel of a size adapted to fit over said opening in sealing position with respect thereto, a first and second pair of handles mounted in said conveyance for rocking movement in opposite directions below said panel, each pair of handles being interconnected whereby rocking movement imparted to one pair is transmitted to the other, opposite ones of said handles being connected in pairs to a shaft rotatably supported in said conveyance, means at one end of each of said handles adapted to force the panel out of said position when the handles are rocked in one direction, and means for releasably latching said panel in position over the escape opening when the handles are rocked in the other direction.

6. An escape hatch for an enclosed conveyance provided with an escape opening and comprising, a panel adapted to fit over said opening in sealing position, depending lugs arranged in pairs on opposite sides of said panel adjacent the ends thereof, pairs of handles corresponding to said lugs and being positioned therebeneath, each of said handles being adapted to be rocked in opposite directions and all of said handles being interconnected whereby rocking movement imparted to one is transmitted to the others, each of said handles being provided with means to force the panel outwardly of the opening when the handles are rocked in one direction, and each of said handles being provided with latching means for releasably engagin said lugs when the handles are rocked in the other direction.

'7. An escape hatch adapted for use with an escape opening comprising, a panel of a size and configuration corresponding generally to that of said opening, said panel having a top-side to face outwardly of said opening and an under-side to face inwardly of said opening, handles mounted for rocking movement at the under-side of said panel adjacent the corners of said panel and arranged t be simultaneously actuatable in a forward or reverse direction, latch means to hold said panel in place over said opening, said latch means being releasable when said handles are rocked in said forward direction, and means carried by said handles to bear against said underside of said panel to force the same outwardly of said opening when said handles are moved in said forward direction.

8. An escape hatch for use with an escape opening comprising, a panel of a size and configuration corresponding generally to that of said opening, said panel having a top-side to face outwardly of said opening and an under-side to face inwardly of said opening, releasable latch means for holding said panel in place over said opening, handles located at the under-side of said panel and supported for simultaneous shifting movement both in a forward and reverse direction relative to the axes of rotation thereof,

said handles normally being disposed in an outof-the-way retracted position at the under-side of said panel, each of said handles having a free end adapted to engage the under-side of said panel, the axes of rotation of said handles being so located relative to said free ends that said free ends will bear against the under-side of said panel to force the same outwardly of said opening as said handles are moved in said forward direction from said retracted position, said latch means being automatically releasable upon movement of said handles in said forward direction.

CHARLES T. DENKER. JOHN KMIT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,033,305 Roy Mar. 10, 1936 2,264,426 Young Dec. 2, 1941 2,295,324 Arthur Sept. 8, 1942 2,370,792 Hoffman Mar. 6, 1945 

